Vice President Sara Duterte made a bold remark during a gathering of her father’s supporters in The Hague, saying a national leader should resign if they fail to demonstrate sound thinking and effective leadership.
“Bakit ba kailangan magresign? Dahil hindi mo pinapakita sa taumbayan na maayos kang mag-isip at kaya mo ang mamuno,” Duterte said in a GMA News Online report, responding to chants of “Marcos resign!” from the crowd. She clarified, “Kayo ang nagsabi niyan, hindi ako ah.”
The event was held ahead of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s birthday. The former chief executive is currently detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC) after his arrest in the Philippines on March 11. His hearing for the confirmation of charges is set for September 23.
Malacañang, in response, questioned the implications of a possible resignation.
“Kung pinagreresign po nila ang Pangulo, sino ba ang makikinabang?” said Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro. She maintained that the President is simply upholding the law.
“Siya pa rin po ang makikinabang,” Castro said of the Vice President. “Hindi po mas kakayanin ng isang tao na mamuno na maraming inililihim, maraming itinatago, at hindi nagpapakita ng anumang dokumento.”
Meanwhile, the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I has ordered both prosecution and defense to submit evidence ahead of the September hearing. The prosecution must disclose witness details by April 4, while the defense has been asked to clarify if they will conduct investigations and present their own witnesses.
Vice President Duterte is expected to visit her father at the detention facility today. Speaking before the crowd, she appealed for her father’s return: “Ibalik ninyo lang siya sa Pilipinas. Ituloy ninyo lang ‘yung kaso walang problema. Ibalik ninyo lang siya.”
